ARTICLES ABOUT LIGHT TRUCKS BY DATE - PAGE 3

Sales of passenger cars have climbed this year as high gas prices have scared consumers from pickups and sport-utility vehicles. But it isn't just fuel-sipping small cars and hybrids gaining converts. Midsize and large cars such as the Chevrolet Impala, Hyundai Sonata and Pontiac G6 have seen sales jump as buyers steer around trucks in the showroom to check out sedans. Passenger-car sales are up 2 percent this year, to 5.4 million through August, while light trucks (SUVs, pickups and vans)

It was easy to tell the victors from the vanquished when President Bush announced new Corporate Average Fuel Economy regulations last week. Auto executives clapped and turned somersaults; environmentalists pounded their chests, raised heads heavenward and wailed. Despite promises of tough new regulations to raise the mileage mandated for light trucks, including sport-utility vehicles, the standards are more milquetoast than muscle. The CAFE standard now requires that each automaker's fleet of light trucks--pickups, vans and SUVs--average 21.6 m.p.g.

Ford Motor Co., whose Explorer has outsold all other sport-utility vehicles in the U.S. for 15 years, is falling short of sales targets with its latest version. Explorer sales totaled 12,122 in October, the lowest since April 1990, when the automaker was ramping up production of the then-new SUV. Ford sold 30,503 Explorers in April 2001, the first month of sales for the 2002 Explorer, the last time the model was revamped. It expected U.S. sales of the 2006 Explorer to exceed 250,000 annually.

- GM is increasing production of its Hummer H3 and the midsize Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups in expectation of increasing sales of the light trucks. They are smaller and more fuel-efficient than other GM offerings. - Ford Motor Co. says a new 3.5-liter, 250-horsepower V-6 engine will power its 2007 Ford Edge and Lincoln Aviator due out next year. The crossovers also will feature a new six-speed automatic transmission, which Ford says can improve fuel economy by up to 7 percent and eliminate noise and vibration.

Auto manufacturers sometimes have to guess at which features they should put in their vehicles, but at other times the federal government makes the decision for them. That is because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal agency that regulates new vehicles, continues to require safety features on cars and light trucks. In addition to familiar mandatory safety gear such as seat belts and center high mounted brake lights, many 2006 models come with tire pressure monitors, or TPMs.

You might argue until the wee hours about global warming, its effects or even if it's a real problem. But several other energy issues are indisputable and alarming. According to the federal Energy Information Administration, in 2004 the U.S. consumed nearly 140 billion gallons of gasoline, or 7 percent more than in 2000. During the same period, net imports of oil increased by 15.8 percent, to 4.4 billion barrels a year. The U.S. imported 58 percent of its oil needs in 2004, and that figure is growing.

Fuel economy for light trucks must improve 6 percent by 2010 under a proposal announced Tuesday by the Bush administration. By 2010, manufacturers would have to make a line of trucks that get an average 23.5 miles per gallon or face fines that can run into millions of dollars, according to a 169-page proposal for new truck corporate average fuel efficiency standards, commonly known as CAFE. This year, truck lines must get an average of 21 m.p.g., under regulations approved two years ago. Next year the minimum rises to 21.6 m.p.g.

American Honda says it will list the government's crash test ratings on all 2006 Honda and Acura cars and light trucks starting this fall. Honda is the first automaker to take the voluntary action in response to a Stars on Cars initiative sponsored by Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) that is awaiting government approval. It would require automakers to post National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash test data on their window stickers. All of Honda's window stickers will display the star ratings awarded under NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)